The traditional Danish New Year's Eve custom of throwing old plates and dishes at friends' doors is called plate smashing.
In the custom, people save unwanted or chipped crockery and throw it against the doors of friends, relatives, or neighbors. A large pile of broken dishes is traditionally interpreted as a sign that the household has many loyal friends. The practice turns breakage into a symbolic gesture of affection and social connection.
The custom is associated with Danish New Year's celebrations, alongside other traditions such as jumping from a chair at midnight to “jump” into the new year. Fireworks, festive meals, and speeches are also common parts of the evening.
Descriptions sometimes call the practice “smashing plates” or “breaking dishes,” but the underlying answer is the same. It should not be confused with ordinary littering: the tradition concerns deliberately using old crockery and is far less universal today than its popular descriptions suggest.